[Vibrant Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] SanFrancisco:
Codes - How to

For those wondering what these programmer (or developer) codes are and how all this done:

These are programming codes and "support" or service dept. codes to get to various menus and interfaces on the Vibrant.

All phones have these and they are typically only known to developers, tech support and even some customer service reps for use when people call in a panic to say the phone is on the fritz.

WARNING: I WOULD NOT ENTER CODES UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THE BELOW AND KNOW WHAT THEY DO. (Some codes are harmless if you screw things up, others may brick your phone, perform a hard reset, delete apps, render the phone and parts of it inoperable, or negatively affect functionality.)

For example, where the OP says "Information on camera" code, be careful on hitting certain menu options on that interface. I don't see a need, at this stage anyway since the Vibrant is so new, to enter that code, so why not avoid problems by not entering it.

After all, the camera code does not do that much for the end user (that's you). Two of the menu options do in fact give you info on what camera software version is running your camera but until Samsung provides a camera firmware update, what good does it do you to know what is running the camera.

But two of the options that you might be tempted to press say:

"Update camera firmware in image" - that's on the ROM.

"Update camera firmware in SD card"

You might think those check the Net for an update, similar to what can be done in Android Settings. But pressing those menu items does NOT access the Net.

If you press either of those it will DELETE the existing camera software on your ROM. It will then look for the update. Since you don't have one, the update will be incomplete and your camera will be inoperable because you deleted the software required to operate it.

Then you're stuck with making a warranty claim saying "My camera stopped working" and hoping they don't discover that you deleted the software and refuse the claim (or charge you for the software reinstall.) Note: I don't know if reinstalling the ROM that's on the Vibrant will reinstall the camera software.

So be careful.

____________________

Still adventurous? (I know you want to enter some codes, just for the fun of it.) Well here's how it all works:

1. You enter these codes via your phone dialer, enter the numbers as if you are going to make a phone call. (I have had some people ask me that, where do I type in the numbers.) :rolleyes:

2. On all code entries you will always type a *#*# at the beginning of the code entry. This tells the Samsung Galaxy S that a code is about to be entered (that is, the numeral after the last #).

3. At the end of the entry you will type combinations of the #*# or whatever is indicated. This is to get you out of the phone dialer and into menu interfaces of whatever you are trying to do or to activate the command.

4. On entering the last character of the code a menu will pop up, where I say it should or the command will be executed.

Here's a teaser code, I will enter all kinds of them later.

This one is harmless if you screw it up entry wise.

This is the code that the OP mentions, but I will explain it a bit more.

____________________

You are probably aware that when you press the power button on the right side of the Vibrant a menu comes up with choices of putting the phone in airplane mode, silent mode, and power off.

Well this code can change the power button's function to just turn off the phone when you press it, that is, rather than a menu popping up. This basically saves you the additional step of having to press a menu item to turn off the phone.

(You can enter the same code and change it back to where the pop-up menu appears when pressing the power button.)

Here is what you do.

1. Go to your phone dialer.

2. Enter this code: *#*#7594#*#*

3. On entering code a window/graphic will pop up that says

"Shutdown - Enable to Shutdown on End call long press." (Note: Although it says "end call" what it means for the Vibrant is the physical power button on the top right side of the phone. There is no physical "end call" button on the Vibrant. End call is performed with a touchscreen command.)

4. There will be a box to check and uncheck. On accessing this the first time the box should be unchecked.

5. Check the box. A green check mark will appear.

6. Back out of the page by pressing your back button until you get to your home page, or simply press the Home button.

7. You do NOT have to reboot for the change to take affect.

8. You can try it out by pressing the power button. If you did things right the phone will automatically power off.

Bonus Tip: You can enter the codes in your contacts, with a descriptive name and the code in the phone number field. While you can't "dial" the codes from the contacts menu you will at least have reference to them. (And you can sometimes perform a copy and paste.)